​For Immediate Release                                                                                           Media Contact: Katie Clark
Tuesday, January 14, 2025                                                                                                  Cell: 207-233-2230

AUGUSTA, Maine (Jan. 14, 2025) - The Maine State Chamber of Commerce welcomed the adoption of rules changes that will improve legislative transparency and called upon the Legislature to continue to build upon the work to make the legislative process publicly accessible and work to improve the efficiency of the Legislature. 
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Maine State Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Patrick Woodcock issued the following statement in response:  

“The Maine State Chamber of Commerce appreciates these rule changes adopted today and encourages the Legislature to build on this work to ensure that the legislative process is transparent and accessible to the public.”  

In December, the Chamber sent a letter to legislative leaders urging them to take action this month to eliminate egregious use of concept drafts and ensure that specific legislative language is available to the public prior to public hearings and work sessions. This continued the Chamber’s advocacy for greater transparency at the Maine State Legislature, the Chamber having testified on the need for greater transparency at the Legislature’s Joint Rules Committee hearing in July 2024 and inviting all Maine House and Senate candidates to respond to a questionnaire asking where they stand on transparency in the legislative process (results here). 

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​AUGUSTA, Maine (December 4, 2024) – The Maine State Chamber of Commerce expressed continued concerns about the final Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML) program rules the Maine Department of Labor (MDOL) announced today. Specifically, the Chamber is concerned that the compressed legislative timeline to meet the statutory deadline for implementation is challenging for employers and may undermine the program's successful rollout. The Chamber continues to believe that subjecting payroll taxes on employers and employees that do not intend to use the state system is inconsistent with the state statute and with other states’ PFML programs.
 
“The Maine State Chamber recognizes the Maine Department of Labor is operating against an extremely tight timeline to meet the state PFML program law’s January 1, 2025, implementation deadline, and we appreciate MDOL’s diligence and efforts over the last several months,” said Patrick Woodcock, president and CEO of the Maine State Chamber of Commerce. “Maine’s PFML program is arguably the most significant regulatory initiative in decades, is extremely complex, and the Maine State Chamber and employers across the state are concerned that the tight 3–4-week timeline for implementation will impact the program rollout’s success, and that employers that will opt in to a substantially equivalent private plan are required to contribute to a program they will never use.”

The Chamber notes that several states, including Maryland, Oregon, and Delaware, have revised their PFML implementation timelines to ensure their programs are launched effectively. Maryland, for instance, adjusted its timeline, with contributions now beginning in July 2025 and benefits starting in July 2026. Similarly, Oregon faced delays, pushing the benefits availability date from January 2023 to September 2023. Delaware has also extended its contribution start date from a prior date to January 2025, with benefits scheduled for January 2026.
 
“Ultimately, the DOL should have the flexibility to implement the program unhindered by arbitrary statutory deadlines and on a timeline that works for employees, employers and ultimately the administrator of the State program,” said Woodcock.

Maine businesses have consistently raised concerns regarding the taxation requirement for companies that will opt in to a substantially equivalent private plan from the onset and do not intend to use the state system. Forcing these businesses to contribute to the state fund—even temporarily—is viewed as inconsistent with statute's intent. Comments from the Maine State Chamber argued this provision is unconstitutional. Specifically, the rule amounts to an unconstitutional taking without just compensation, violates the equal protection clause of the Constitution, and violates the due process clause of the Constitution.
 
Woodcock added, “The Maine State Chamber of Commerce urges policymakers to consider adjustments to the PFML program timeline and to remove the tax on employees and employer under existing PFML that will never utilize the state system. Maine’s PFML program should be executed in a manner to ensure an effective implementation. By addressing these concerns now, at the beginning of this upcoming legislative session, Maine can develop a successful PFML program that supports employees while minimizing unintended consequences for employers.”
 
The Maine State Chamber has expressed its concerns and recommendations surrounding Maine’s PFML program with the goal of making Maine’s PFML program more workable for employers and employees throughout the legislative and rulemaking process, including in July 2024 and August 2024.
 
For more information on the Maine State Chamber’s recommendations to MDOL on the proposed PFML rules, please see the Chamber’s June 10, 2024, public hearing testimony before MDOL and a recording of the Maine State Chamber’s June 6, 2024 roundtable with businesses. 

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​AUGUSTA, Maine (Monday, December 2, 2024) – The Maine State Chamber of Commerce and five other business associations delivered a letter to Governor Janet T. Mills today outlining concerns over the proposed Chapter 428: Stewardship Program for Packaging rule that is being considered by Maine’s Board of Environmental Protection (BEP). In advance of a BEP meeting this Thursday, December 5, 2024, the letter to Gov. Mills highlights significant challenges with the proposed rule, including the unknown cost to producers, new recycling access goals, and a structure that diverges from the four other states that have enacted Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) packaging laws.
 
Current EPR packaging law rulemaking continues following the Maine Legislature passing L.D. 1541, An Act to Support and Improve Municipal Recycling Programs and Save Taxpayer Money in July 2021. The law established the Stewardship Program for Packaging to reduce the volume of packaging material, increase recyclability, and was intended to save municipalities money by requiring producers to cover the cost of managing packaging material. While the law provided a broad framework for the program, the Maine BEP is now considering adoption of the Chapter 428 proposed rule, drafted by the Maine Department of Environmental Protection, which provides specific details on how the program will be operated, reporting requirements, payment structures, goals, and compliance enforcement. 
 
“Over the last several months, the Maine State Chamber has heard from members who are currently budgeting for 2026, but the unknown cost of this program is creating significant uncertainty,” said Patrick Woodcock, President and CEO of the Maine State Chamber of Commerce. “Maine should consider alignment with other states that are implementing the extended producer responsibility programs with clear cost controls and with additional flexibility for producers while maintaining the program’s worthy requirement of reducing waste.”
 
The Maine State Chamber is committed to supporting effective environmental stewardship, and urges policies that are fair, predictable, and conducive to Maine’s economic growth. Among concerns outlined by signers of the letter to Gov. Mills is that the cost to be covered by businesses if recycling performance goals are unmet will significantly increase the cost of the program. In addition to outlining concerns with the proposed rule, the letter urges Gov. Mills to ask for a pause in adoption so adjustments to the rule can be made that provide for greater alignment with other states and strike a balance between environmental goals and economic sustainability.
 
On Friday, November 29, 2024, the Maine Department of Environmental Protection emailed a public meeting and hearing notice that the BEP will meet on Chapter 428 and other issues beginning at 9:00 a.m. (ET) on Thursday, December 5, 2024. BEP will accept in-person public comment at the meeting.
 
Organizations that signed the letter to Gov. Mills are the Maine State Chamber of Commerce, American Institute for Packaging and the Environment (AMERIPEN), Consumer Brands Association, Maine Grocers and Food Producers Association, Hospitality Maine, and the Retail Association of Maine, whose CEO authored an opinion column - Maine must take a balanced approach to packaging law - that was published in the Portland Press Herald today, Monday, December 2, 2024.

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AUGUSTA, Maine – The Maine State Chamber of Commerce held its annual meeting and dinner on Wednesday, October 30, 2024, at the Augusta Civic Center in Augusta. In addition to hosting a U.S. Senate debate in partnership with NEWS CENTER Maine, the Chamber presented a leadership award to retiring Thomas College President Laurie G. Lachance and honored the Lewiston-Auburn Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce for their leadership and efforts following the October 2023 mass shooting tragedy in Lewiston. More than 400 people attended the Wednesday event. 

The U.S. Senate debate was televised and streamed live and was moderated by NEWS CENTER Maine reporter and anchor Rob Caldwell. The four candidates for the U.S. Senate – incumbent U.S. Senator Angus King, Demi Kouzounas, David Costello, and Jason Cherry - participated. 

Lachance received the Chamber’s “Dirigo Award” for her visionary leadership and decades of contributions and service to Maine. From 2012 to 2024, Lachance served as President of Thomas College in Waterville as the college’s 5th President and the first female and alumna to lead the college. From 2004-2012, Lachance was president and CEO of the Maine Development Foundation. Prior to MDF, she served three governors as Maine State Economist. Before joining state government, Lachance was the Corporate Economist at Central Maine Power Company. Lachance joins several Maine Governors, U.S. Senators, and Maine business leaders in receiving the Maine State Chamber’s “Dirigo Award.” 

The Maine State Chamber recognized the Lewiston-Auburn Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce as the 2024 “Dana F. Connors Chamber of the Year” for their leadership, resilience, and commitment to rebuilding and revitalizing the Lewiston-Auburn community in response to the mass shooting tragedy that took place on October 25, 2023, claiming 18 lives and impacting hundreds of people and businesses in the Lewiston-Auburn region and beyond. 

Maine State Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Patrick Woodcock said, “The Maine State Chamber is honored to pay tribute to Laurie Lachance for her invaluable leadership and contributions to Maine. Laurie’s career and leadership are a testament to her core belief in Maine and Maine people, and her commitment to achieving success through education opportunities. The Chamber is also honored to recognize the Lewiston-Auburn Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce for their leadership at the forefront of confronting a tragedy, organizing relief, and inspiring a community to find resilience.”  

Woodcock added, “We appreciate the partnership with NEWS CENTER Maine in hosting the U.S. Senate debate before an audience of Chamber members and state and federal leaders and elected officials. We thank the four candidates for participating and sharing their views and priorities to address the major challenges Maine and the nation face.” 

The Maine State Chamber also debuted its 2024 edition of OneVoice Maine magazine Wednesday, which pays tribute to Lachance with feature articles about Lachance’s life, career, impact, and legacy, and perspectives from her family, friends, and colleagues, including Governor Janet T. Mills and U.S. Senator Susan Collins. 
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To view the 2024 edition of OneVoice Maine magazine, please click here or visit https://issuu.com/mainestatechamber/docs/onevoicemaine2024.​

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AUGUSTA, Maine (Thursday, October 24, 2024) -- The Maine State Chamber of Commerce issued the following statement recognizing the one-year anniversary of the mass shooting tragedy that took place on October 25, 2023, in Lewiston, Maine:

​​“On the one-year anniversary of the mass shootings in Lewiston, the Maine State Chamber of Commerce joins Mainers across our state in remembering, honoring, and mourning the 18 lives lost and all those injured and impacted by the violence of that tragic day. We also honor the extraordinary resilience of Lewiston-Auburn, and the individuals, businesses, and organizations whose leadership has illustrated how to build community strength in the aftermath of a tragedy.” -- Maine State Chamber of Commerce

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​AUGUSTA, Maine (Friday, October 18, 2024) -- The Maine Economic Research Institute (MERI), today released its 2024 Roll Call publication, a scorecard and analysis of the 131st Maine State Legislature’s performance and individual state legislators’ votes on bills and initiatives impacting Maine’s businesses and economy. The 131st Legislature received an overall performance ranking, or average of every individual legislator’s score, of 44.5 percent, while individual legislators’ scores ranged from a high score of 98 and a low of zero. Of the 101 bills MERI tracked, only three of the 33 bills MERI supported were enacted through Roll Call votes.
 
“MERI is a crucial tool for holding our state legislators accountable for their votes on business and economic issues,” said MERI President Simon West. “MERI’s latest Roll Call analysis portends a challenging business and economic environment. Significantly stronger support for legislation and initiatives that will grow, not hinder, Maine’s economy must increase for Maine’s economy to compete and succeed.”
 
“Legislator voting records and MERI scores matter,” said Maine State Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Patrick Woodcock. “For Maine and Maine people to reach our full economic potential, it is critical to support candidates who are committed to shifting Maine to an environment where businesses add employees, make capital investments, and ultimately expand their businesses here in Maine. MERI is key to helping all Maine voters make informed decisions this election season that are based on candidates’ voting records on the issues critical to Maine’s business and economic future.”
 
During each legislative session, MERI tracks legislators’ votes on a set of “Watch List” bills. After each session concludes, MERI analyzes legislator votes and publishes their scores and rankings in Roll Call. A vote supporting MERI’s position on a bill is a positive mark on a legislator’s score.
 
This year, MERI recognized Senate President Troy Jackson (Aroostook) as its “Policy Champ” for being the top sponsor of pro-MERI bills in the 131st Legislature. Senator Michael Tipping (Penobscot) earned MERI’s “Policy Flop” designation for sponsoring the most bills MERI opposed. Representative Timothy Guerrette of House District 4 (Caribou) earned MERI’s highest score (98 percent). Representative Laura Supica of House District 22 (Bangor) earned the lowest score (0 percent).
 
Since 1999, MERI has provided objective, research-based analyses of state legislator votes that impact Maine’s business community, economy, and economic competitiveness. Legislation selected for tracking is driven by what Maine employers of all sizes and sectors across Maine indicate will be critical to their success and growing Maine’s economy.
 
MERI uses criteria from Maine’s 10-year Economic Development Strategy and the Making Maine Work and Measures of Growth reports and takes into account Maine’s current and future needs in areas including education attainment, energy costs, wage growth, tax burden, R&D investment, talent attraction, housing, and more to provide objective and transparent ratings about legislators’ support for efforts to meet Maine’s future goals and keep Maine competitive. MERI’s Roll Call provides Maine voters with an understanding of where their legislators stand with the business community.
 
For MERI’s full Roll Call report of legislator scores and rankings, please click here or visit www.me-ri.org/roll-call. MERI’s “Watch List” of bills in both the first and second regular sessions of the 131st Legislature covered taxation, innovation, research and development, energy, the environment, labor, and education. The full “Watch List” can be found here or at www.me-ri.org/watch-list.

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